Andy surveyed the beach to see the distance to the Holiday Inn. It appeared about fifty yards away from where he originally entered the water. Now they
walked through the surging surf and sand and little brown fish tumbled around their knees.
“You’re safe now. Are you with a group?”
Lucia pointed to a cluster of red blankets, a rental umbrella, and ice chest. Two other young women in bikinis were spread out, tanning, and motionless.
“Those your buddies?”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t seem that you were missed.” Andy felt disgusted. How could you not watch out for your friends?
Lucia picked up her pace upon nearing the blankets.
“Patricia, Helen! Why didn’t you come save me?”
Andy looked over the spot. Empty plastic drink containers with straws were propped in the sand next to each woman. They rolled over and looked at her stupidly.
“You were asleep, weren’t you?” She looked at them indignantly.
“I just drank a coupla beers,” the one in the orange bikini said.”
“Yeah,” the other girl parroted her. “I just had a couple of beers, too.”
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Andy thought. I could already have been home eating lunch with my dad now. I could be doing a whole lot of other things too.
“I hate to leave you pretty ladies, but I have to find my shoes that I tossed on the beach half an hour ago.”
Disgusted, he turned to leave.
“Wait!” Lucia reached out to touch his back. “I didn’t thank you!” Her eyes were a startling blue color.
Andy turned to look at her. She bore such a damned pretty look he almost forgot their situation–almost. He never could bear stupidity well.